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Croque Madame is a French classic for a reason. It’s the ultimate ham and cheese sandwich topped with bechamel and a soft fried egg. What’s not to love?

This easy French sandwich is the kind of recipe that requires a little more effort but oh man, is it worth it! There is no sandwich simpler than the humble ham and cheese. But then the French took it up a notch by making it even more glorious. Topping the sandwich with a generous spoonful of creamy bechamel sauce turns a simple sandwich into a masterpiece and then you add a soft fried egg and you have happiness.

The key to making a seriously good Croque Madame , is that you need the very best ingredients you can afford. Good, crusty bread (baguette or sourdough ideally but ciabatta will also work), good ham (I used Gypsy ham) and nutty Gruyere cheese are all necessary. That’s what takes this from average to awesome. Then you top it with that egg and you cut through it, allowing the soft egg yolk to lend its creaminess to the rest of the sandwich and ohmygosh. Are you drooling on your keyboard yet? Yep, me too.

What is in a croque madame?

Croque Madame is a simple ham and cheese sandwich topped with creamy bechamel sauce and a fried egg.

What is the difference between a croque monsieur and a croque madame?

The difference is that ‘n Croque Madame has a fried egg on top whereas a Croque Monsieur doesn’t.

Croque Madame

Croque Madame is a French classic for a reason. It's the ultimate ham and cheese sandwich topped with bechamel and a soft fried egg. What's not to love?

Course Breakfast, Lunch, Sandwich

Cuisine French

Keyword Croque madame, easy recipe, Sandwich

Prep Time 10minutes

Cook Time 5minutes

Total Time 15minutes

Servings 4

Calories 465kcal

Author Alida Ryder

Ingredients

2tablespoonsbutter

2tablespoonsflour

1-1.5cupsmilk

1teaspoonDijon mustard

salt and white pepper to taste

8slicesbreadtoasted

12sliceshamI used Gypsy ham

2cupsgrated Gruyere cheese

4eggsfried to your preference

Instructions

Pre-heat the grill of the oven.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter then whisk in the flour to make a roux.

Slowly pour in the milk while continuously whisking to create a smooth, rich sauce.

Turn down the heat and allow to cook gently, whilst stirring, until the sauce is cooked through.

Add the mustard and season to taste.

Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the ham and cheese between 4 slices. Place in the oven, allowing the cheese to melt then top with the remaining slices of bread and a generous spoonful of bechamel sauce before returning to the oven.

Allow to grill until golden brown then remove from the oven and top with the fried eggs.

Being a general food freak has proven to be quite helpful in this career I've found myself in. Author of two cookbooks, photographer, food stylist. Mom to twins. Ex make-up and hair artist obsessed with beautiful clothes and spaces. I love a good G&T and I've been known to spend too much money on shoes.

This looks sinfully delicious! I’m a sucker for anything bechamel….how do we feel about throwing candied bacon into this mix? My kids aren’t the biggest fans of ham, and I’m hoping a simple switch of some salty goodness could help out here!